Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-07-07
The State of Maine.
BY RUSSELL A. BALLoU.
lRead at the May meeting of the Pine Tree State

lRead at the May meeting of the Pine Tree State
Club. Boston.l
Looki there arises before to day
beautiful image.-'tis here, it's away
1t lives in our memory-elings to the heart,
From its hallowed endearments we never will part
lis the pictured ideal of dear old Maine
With mountain and valley and river and plain
See the clear azure blue of her pine clad hills,
Hear the murmuring voice of her flowing rills,
See her thousand lakes in the sunshine flashing,
And her thousand waterfalls downward dashing;
See the dancing waves, hear the breakers roar
On her three thousand miles of sun.lit shore,
And the hazy mist an quivering sheen
Adjoining her countless islands green,
And Par adise rest, on summer day,
Upon Mt Desert, across Frenchman's Bayl
! Look elsewhere for these, you will look in vain.
They belong TO the glorious State of Maine.
But better far than the beauties that gleam
From lake and hill and shore and stream
Are the eyes that shine aud the hearts that beat
On rural farm and crowded street
The men and women-in toll and care,
Guarded BIZ love and guided by prayer
Coming and going in rain and sun,
Weaving ifes web till the web is done;
Scattered far over our wide domain,
On western prsirie and SOU hern plain,
High on the Rocky Mountains side,
Down by Pacitc's restless tide,
In college halls, in schools of art,
In the MINER hut. in the business mart,
Wherever there's labor for hand or brain.
You lind the sons and the daughters Of Maine.
To ply the scissors and wield the Quill?
Or preacher TO preach to fallen man
AS only a native savage" can?
Or lawyer to tell without flaw
The exact requirements of the law!
Or doctor with science and powders and pills
TO free you from all your bodily ils?-
When such men are wanted, again and again
They come In troops from the state OF Maine!
DO you want Chief Magistrate faithful and strong
\ Washburn, an Andrew. Governor Long
For the grand old Mother that sits by the Bay,
Or 10 govern Western State. far away?
You've only 10 issue suitable call;
Governors are peterborough for all
Your call will be answered by earliest train,
The woods full OF 'em down In Mane
Is any young fellow here straining his eyes
10 find first class matrimonial prize,
lady by nature, by culture refined.
Beautiful. z. nervous, gentle and kind,
Who as daughter or mother or sister or wife
Is fait sinl 10 all the relations of life,
comfort in trouble a helpmeet in care,
A cheerful companion, as brilliant as fair,
Thoughtful and loving and sound and sane2
She's one OF the natural productions OF Maine!
Were the nation in peril. were there walike din
I. ION foes without or fro N rebels within,
Were soldiers needed, bold and brave,
To march to victory or the grave,
To stand where the leaden bullets fall
And sabres clash meath the sulphurous pail,
10 face he belching cannon's tire
While the sound of the strife still rises higher
Where blood and pain and screaming shell
Make of the battlefield HE'LL
'Iwould be again as 1t was before
Were coming three hundred thousand more"
With Howard, a Conner, a Chamberlain,-
You can always depend on the cons of Mainei
Do you want a man for the Chair of State
Who, like the country itself, is great!
Who touches the strings with masters hand,
Whose genilest ute, ance thrills the land;
man who would make the nations flag
symbol Of power, not q dropping rag
With spirit and courage to claim the right
Against Canada's whining or England's might;
man who himself is national power
The man tor the country, the man for the hour
need not name him-youl see him again,
You'll find him down in the State of Maine.